These days, most university students are relying on electronic devices like mobile phones, tablet PCs, and laptops, during lectures. Rather than buying paper textbooks, they simply load textbook files onto their devices. Only a few students are accessing these textbook files through legitimate means. Furthermore, some students purchase or sell these files through illegal channels. In extreme cases, it has been reported that some students even share previous exam questions without any permission from the professor. All of these are acts of copyright infringement, but most students are either unaware of it or simply turning a blind eye.
On April 16, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) published a copyright guideline for university students. The ministry has responded to the publishing industry’s concerns about illegal reproduction in universities, considering it a major instance of copyright infringement. There was a demand for the ministry’s action on the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials in universities at a meeting held on March 14.
The new guideline provides comprehensive explanations of various copyright issues that commonly arise during university life. Specifically, it addresses unauthorized recording of lectures, sharing or trading of class materials, unapproved distribution of textbook files, sharing of exam questions without permission, and illegal distribution of films and webtoons. It also presents guidance on how students should deal with such situations. In addition, it introduces works that can be used without any concern for an infringement of copyright, such as those covered under the Korea Open Government License (KOGL) and public domain. Plus, it explains how to quote others’ work properly when working on assignments or research papers.
Jeong Hyang-mi, Director of the Copyright Bureau of the Ministry, said “The change of perception in the university students, who are the future owners of K-content, is the beginning of copyright protection.” She added, “As copyright infringement among university students increases, this guideline aims to help them establish a correct understanding of copyright protection and support them to resolve illegal reproduction problems.”
The new guideline can be read freely by visiting the website of the ministry or the Korea Copyright Protection Agency. It will foster a university culture that places much more value on copyright.
